Metro News & Reviews

March 18 is Transit Driver Appreciation Day!

Thank You cards you can print out and personalize! From transitdriverday.org.

Join transit riders in cities across the nation tomorrow, March 18, for Transit Driver Appreciation Day. Because let’s face it: operating a bus or train is no easy task and no one’s getting rich doing it.

However, it is easy to show your appreciation for the hard-working men and women who operate our buses and trains.

Smile and wave when you board the bus or train, and say “thank you” when you leave.

Print out and personalize a thank-you card to show your appreciation in person.

Submit an official commendation via CustomerRelations@metro.net for a job well done, so your operators can be formally recognized for their efforts.

You can also share your appreciation with us via social media! Use the hashtag #LoveMetroLA when posting on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and let us know which operators have made your travels better.

Seems to me that the name of the day is somewhat discriminatory: a “motorman” or a “gripman” (or the female equivalents, or a conductor) is not, technically, a “driver” (and indeed, the only transit vehicle that runs on rails and does have a “driver” is . . . wait for it . . . a HORSECAR!)

Perhaps a better name would be “Transit OPERATOR appreciation day.” That would cover those operating not only buses, but trolley, el, and subway cars, and even signal towers.

(And yes, my understanding is that at least one woman has operated the grip on a MUNI cable car, on a regular and ongoing basis, although that particular breach of the gender barrier was a long time in coming, particularly given that the Cable Car Division has had women as conductors for decades.)

And yes, when I get off the Blue Line at Wardlow, after a night at the Bowl or Disney Hall (or a day at a museum, or a day working a video crew at the ice rinks in Pasadena or El Segundo), I do smile, nod and wave, as I walk past the cab. (And then, bowing to the wisdom of not attempting to play chicken with even one 40-odd-ton trolley car, much less two or three of them, I give an “after you” gesture as I walk down the ramp to the sidewalk.) Unfortunately, that’s about the only time I’m ever in a position to do any of this.

When I ride the subway or Metrolink, since I don’t have access to the driver, I shoot a “peace sign” V, thumbs up, or wave in the direction of the conductor/operator. On the bus I always say thanks at the end.